Wild Boys of the Road

A very handsomely crafted picture, complemented by its brevity and frank depictions of desperate circumstances leading to violence, including against police.

Viewed February 23, 2022. Wellman imbues the film with a boyish sense of adventure in sweeping shots of trains crossing the landscape and groups of kids going to war with "railroad dicks," and then switches on a dime to more harrowing depictions of their powerlessness (a grim sequence where a teenage girl gets raped). He faithfully balances his characters' childish wide-eyed wonder with scenes that indicate that they've grown up too fast because the institutions around them have failed them.

Gets points for the social commentary and subject matter. The first half is actually fun to watch, but overall too much melodrama and bad acting.

I loved the harsh realism delivered in parts of the film while the protagonists still kept their humanity. The ending was a rushed letdown after the rest of the ride.

End was a weird jump but this is freedom as cinema. The beauty and pains of youth

I'm used to seeing themes of destitute and delinquent youth in post-war European cinema. Depression-era Hollywood is known for escapist yarns of high society and screwball comedies. While a little manipulative here and a bit didactic there, Wellman's film stands out in its refreshing honesty. Pretty good all-around.

Star Rating: ★★★★

"I also think that film is kind of a generational tale." http://illusionpodcast.blogspot.com/2015/01/episode-44-william-wellman-1929-1933.html

The depression sends families out into poverty and the kids travel the country to find work. Only to find that life is neither fair nor easy. Frankie Darro puts on a winning performance along with his 2 closest friends. It's a heartfelt movie about struggle, youths rebellion and bad lucks. And while the end is pure Roosevelt propaganda, it doesn't take away the impression for a pretty great juvenile story. One would want them to have a fighting chance at life.

One of the "social conscience" dramas of the 30s. Corny as hell, to be sure, but the cast is fine and Wellman keeps it all on an even keel